Family and Education

b. c.1600, o.s. of John Ravenscroft of Horsham by w. Judith, da. of George Ferne of Temple Belwood, Lincs. educ. Christ Church, Oxf. matric. 8 Nov. 1616, aged L. Inn 1618. m. by 1621, Elizabeth (bur. 6 June 1655), da. of John Stapley of Hickstead, Twineham, Suss., wid. of Henry Colthurst, Haberdasher, of London and Cuckfield, Suss., 2s. d.v.p. 1da. suc. fa. 1615.2

Offices Held

Commr. for assessment, Suss. 1643-9, Aug. 1660-1, sequestration 1643, levying of money defence 1643, execution of ordinances 1644, j.p. 1644-July 1660, commr. for new model ordinance 1645, militia 1648, Mar. 1660.3

Biography

Ravenscroft came from a family long established on the Welsh marches that produced two Flintshire Members in Elizabethan times. His grandfather, a younger son, moved to Sussex in the Duke of Norfolk’s service and married the sister and heir of George Hall of Horsham. Ravenscroft himself inherited two burgage tenements in the town, and was returned at both elections of 1640. A moderate Parliamentarian in the Civil War, he served on the county committee, but took no part in the actual fighting. He did not sit after Pride’s Purge, but unlike his fellow-Member Thomas Middleton made no overtures to the Royalists.4

Returned for Horsham again in 1660, he was on Lord Wharton’s list of friends, to be managed by Sir Richard Onslow. On 19 May William Prynne reported from the committee of discoveries that Ravenscroft had confessed to having detained two years’ rent to the crown (£24) in his own hands in 1648. He was an inactive Member of the Convention, being named to only four committees, including those to inquire into the state of the queen mother’s jointure and for the bill for appointing army commissioners. Although he signed the loyal address at the Restoration he was removed from the commission of the peace, and played no further part in public life. He survived all his children, and in 1673 was living in Cheshire with his son-in-law Sir Thomas Delves. His will was proved on 29 July 1681.5

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / B. M. Crook / Basil Duke Henning

Notes

• 1. Did not sit after Pride’s Purge, 6 Dec. 1648.
• 2. Vis. Suss. (Harl. Soc. liii), 171; J. Comber, Suss. Genealogies Horsham, 313-14; Misc. Gen. et Her. (n.s.), i. 475; (ser. 5), i. 218; Harl. 1971, f. 97v.
• 3. Q. Sess. Order Bk. (Suss. Rec. Soc. liv), p. xxiv.
• 4. Vis. Cheshire (Harl. Soc. xviii), 194-5; Ormerod, Cheshire, iii. 208; W. D. Albery, Parl. Hist. Horsham, 21; Keeler, Long Parl. 321-2.
• 5. Fines of Manors (Suss. Rec. Soc. xix), 215; A. Fletcher, County Community in Peace and War, 320; PCC 111 North.